TappStampers

2012 – another new year already??!!

Interesting, we all say it: ‘Where does the time go?’

And with a new year comes – new resolutions. Mine will be a challenge…to post more often!

I will begin by sharing this past year – it has been a truly amazing year:

· adding a recruit;

· 5 stamper winners at the 2011 NC State Fair; and

· blessings from the Ronald McDonald House.

My first two recruits, Laurie Meier and Celia Pierce, joined in 2010, both having moved to this area from Texas and Arizona, respectively. Laurie began to grow her business by displaying her work at the local Curves, which gained an invitation to display at a local art event, which grew into stamping classes. You never know where SU! will take you! Celia combines her SU! tools and stamps with her love for paper making and soap making. Celia moved here to be with her mom during recovery, but ended up settling properties both here and in Arizona, packing up both places, and moving hubby here and her mom into a nearby residence. What amazing woman you are, Celia! Maria Marquez joined my team in 2011; she and I have had a long-term friendship; she and her husband are both in service, and Maria is interested in teaching friends to stamp. I am a blessed upline. I’ll share their work soon.

In the fall of 2011, five of my club members entered the Rubber Stamping category at the NC State Fair – and ALL FIVE won ribbons! One of the stampers won a ‘Best of Show’ award!! I’ve never seen that award for this category and was very proud of all of my stampers! I won only one ribbon – a blue ribbon for my Angry Birds sound card. What a fun year!!! I’ll share pix soon.

Each month, a group of stampers stamp with the families at the local Ronald McDonald House. This past fall, we met an awesome family: Johnny & Kelley Rose, and their 3 children. Their fourth child, Buck, was premature and the family is dealing with the issues of a premature baby. You can read Buck’s journal at www.caringbridge.org – just sign in and visit as often as you like. I promise, you will be blessed. This is an amazing young faith-based family. God blesses them each day, and has greatly blessed us through knowing them as a result of our sharing what we love at the RMH every month.

Happy New Year – and I look forward to sharing what we all love (stamping!) and pix soon

It's a giving thing...

Brenda

Paper Cutting Table - too cool!

This 'paper-cutting chart' is just too cool a tool; took me a bit to figure it out, but with a little help from my friends... Download PAPER Cutting Table Info-pdf

By using this chart, I can EASILY determine how to get the most out of my cardstock when making multiple cuts -- it even includes 12" cardstock!!  It is very easy to use; here are instructions

1. FIRST, note that the table continues from the top section, to the middle section, to the end.
2. NEXT, notice that each cell along the top row tells you the SIZE you want to cut.
3. FINALLY, notice that each column is in sequential increments of the # at the top (i.e., 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 -- each column is increments of the top # (measurement)

Now, let's see how to use this table.  A simple example is perhaps you want to cut something 2" wide x 2" wide, and you want to see how many 2" wide pieces you can cut out of your cardstock...

• Look along the top rows to find 2". 
• Now, look DOWN that column and you will see other sizes in INCREMENTS of 2".  The one below 2 is 4, the one below 4 is 6, etc. -- increments of 2.
• Sooooo, as you continue to look down the column under '2', you will eventually come to a measurement closest to the length of your paper and the width of your paper. 

• Look down that column and see that you can cut ...

  • 4 pieces out of a 8 1/2" piece of CS (see, closest # is 8), or
  • 5 pieces out of an 11 1/2" piece of CS (see, closest # is 11), or
  • 6 pieces out of a 12" piece of CS(you do see '12' here)
    • all, depending on which direction you cut your 2" wide pieces

Now, if you want to cut a different size, for example 2 x 2 1/2, look for BOTH numbers and see which direction to cut your card stock to get the most cuts...IS THIS COOL OR WHAT?!